Large Fishing Trawler Arrested in Liberia

(Maritime Executives) – A St Kitts and Nevis-flagged trawler has been arrested in Liberia for fisheries crimes including fish smuggling and violations of tax and customs laws.

The F/V Dzintars, a 56-meter (184-foot) trawler, was boarded by the Liberian Coast Guard after the vessel shut down her Automatic Identification System before crossing from neighboring Sierra Leone into Liberian waters.

The Liberian Coast Guard boarded the Dzintars with the assistance of the Sea Shepherd vessel Sam Simon.

Given that the master of the vessel had deliberately turned off the AIS before entering Liberian waters, had not declared “Catch On Entry” as required by Liberian Fisheries Regulations and did not have an Import Permit for Fish and Fish Products as required under Liberian Law, the Dzintars was arrested on suspicion of illegal and unreported fishing with the criminal intent of avoiding tax and customs laws in Liberia.

A wild monkey was also found on board in the fish processing plant, for which there was no paperwork provided. The vessel was detained at the Liberian Coast Guard base in the Port of Monrovia.

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Joel Cholo Brooks is a Liberian journalist who previously worked for several international news outlets including the BBC African Service. He is the CEO of the Global News Network which publishes two local weeklies, The Star and The GNN-Liberia Newspapers. He is a member of the Press Union Of Liberia (PUL) since 1986, and several other international organizations of journalists, and is currently contributing to the South Africa Broadcasting Corporation as Liberia Correspondent.